The Star — Child

One  winter  night  in  a  big  forest  of  pine  trees  two  woodcutters  were  walking  home.  It  was  very,  very  cold  and  there  was  snow  on  the  ground.  The  trees  were  cold,  the  birds  were  cold  and  the  animals  were  cold.  The  birds  were  cold  and  the  animals  were  cold.  The  rabbits  stayed  in  their  rabbit  holes  and  the  squirrels  stayed  in  the  trees.

The  two  woodcutters  continued  their  journey.  They  prayed  to  St.  Martin,  the  protector  of  travelers.  And  finally  they  saw  the  lights  of  their  little  village  in  the  distance.  They  were  very  happy  and  laughed.

The  earth  now  seemed  like  a  flower  of  silver  and  the  moon  seemed  like  a  flower  of  gold.  But  soon  they  became  sad  again.  Why  were  we  so  happy?  Thought  life  is  for  rich  people,  not  poor  people  like  us.  It  is  better  if  we  die  in  the  snow  or  if  a  wild  animal  eats  us.

Suddenly  something  very  strange  happened.  A  very  bright  and  beautiful  star  fell  from  the  sky  into  the  snow.  Look,  said  said  one  of  the  woodcutters  to  his  friend.  Perhaps  we  will  find  a  pot  of  gold.  Let's  go  and  see  then.

When  they  arrived,  they  found  a  thing  of  gold  on  the  white  snow.  But  it  wasn't  the  treasure  they  wanted.  It  was  a  golden  cloak  with  golden  stars  on  it.  They  opened  the  cloak  and  inside  they  saw  a  little  baby  sleeping.  Round  the  baby's  neck  was  a  chain  of  amber.

Look.  This  is  not  good,  said  one  of  them.  But  let's  leave  the  baby  here.  We  have  too  many  children  and  not  enough  money  to  buy  food.  I  don't  want  another  child.

But  we  can't  leave  this  little  baby  here  alone.  But  we  can't  leave  this  little  baby  here  alone,  said  the  other  woodcutter.  He  will  surely  die.  I  will  take  him  home  with  me.  We  have  many  children  and  not  enough  food.

But  my  wife  will  look  after  him.  And  my  wife  will  look  after  him.  And  the  good  woodcutter  took  the  baby  in  his  arms  and  continued  his  journey  home.  When  they  arrived  at  their  village,  the  first  woodcutter  said  you  have  the  child,  so  you  must  give  me  the  cloak  of  gold.  But  his  friend  answered  to  know  this  cloak  is  not  yours  or  mine.

It  is  the  baby's  cloak.  It  must  stay  with  him.  The  woodcutter's  wife  was  very  happy  to  see  her  husband.  She  put  her  arms  round  him  and  kissed  him.  I  found  something  in  the  forest  and  I  brought  it  home  for  you,  he  said.

Good.  What  is  it?  We  are  very  poor  and  we  need  many  things.  But  she  was  very  angry  when  she  saw  the  baby.  Do  we  have  too  many  children  already  and  not  enough  money  to  buy  food?

I  don't  want  another  child,  she  said.  But  then  she  looked  at  the  baby  and  her  heart  was  full  of  pity.  He  is  a  star  child,  shall,  said  her  husband  to.  We  must  love  him.  So  the  woman  put  the  baby  in  a  little  bed  to  sleep.

She  put  the  cloak  and  the  chain  into  a  chest.  She  put  put  the  cloak  and  the  chain  into  a  chest.  We  will  love  him.